Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Review - Skyfall (2012)

Happy 50th Anniversary 007! Fifty years has passed and we get our 23rd James Bond film Skyfall. Starring Daniel Craig as our beloved super spy and agent, this film didnt disappoint, well not to me anyways. After a solid start with Casino Royale and very disappointing follow up in Quantum of Solacein the Daniel Craig Bond era, things have turned around quite nicely with Skyfall.

MI6 is in shambles. A computer hard-drive containing the names of undercover NATO agents in terrorist organizations is stolen by unknown assailants. James Bond and fellow agent Eve (Naomie Harris) head out to retrieve the stolen hard drive but the mission was deemed failure. Bond was shot and presumed dead and head of MI6, M (Judi Dench), faces forced retirement because of the loss of the hard drive and death of agents. MI6 headquarter is attacked and as expected, Bond isnt dead. He heads back to England to help MI6 track down the perpetrator before things further get out of hand.

After a riveting opening sequence, the movie slows down just a bit until we meet the antagonist of the film, Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem), and boy was he impressive. He played an excellent villain and was perhaps the highlight of this film. He appears likable but deep down you could see his true evil intentions. We get to find out what was Silva's motive behind his actions in this movie. Agent M's past had come unfortunately come back to haunt her and that is how the story unfolded. A simple but smart storyline accompanied by action sequences which were entertaining and not overdone. Solid performances from the rest of the cast by the way. Daniel is steadily improving in his role, Judi Dench had a commanding performance and kudos to Naomie Harris for shining in her moments.

Skyfall wasn't just lone action but also a mix of character study. We get to learn a little bit more of some of our main characters. The film's musical score provided a soothing and at times suspenseful atmosphere. Adele's hit song definitely set the tone from the opening scene.

Though I dont considerSkyfall as the best Bond film to date, but to say it wasnt enjoyable would be a sin. I just adored how they payed homage to past Bond classics with the appearance of the original Aston Martin car and other references. The reintroduction of the characters Q and Eve MoneyPenny into the franchise worked out quite well I must add. The film was also beautifully shot. Kudos to the cinematographers on this one.

Skyfall had its funny moments too. It was engaging and the film's lengthy run time was not an issue. Definitely a fine addition to the Bond franchise.

Rating: 8.5/10

Movies Also Watched:

The Intouchables (2012)
Phillipe (Francois Cluzet) is paralyzed from the neck down. He forms a special bond with his new black caretaker Drissi (Omar Sy). Their friendship, dialogue and interactions were really fun to watch and carried this movie to extreme comfort and smiles. Strong performances from the cast in strongly written and charming film. -9.5/10

Excision (2012)
A look into the life of Pauline (AnnaLyne McCord), an outcast in pretty much all her surroundings. Pauline faces pressure from her controlling mother and is also affected by her sister's illness. A strange yet solid performance by McCord in this dark and bloody comedy highlighting teen angst. - 7.5/10

Killer Joe (2011)
A dark, funny and violent film surrounding Chris Smith (Emile Hirsch) who plans to kill his mother for her insurance money to clear off his debts. He gets the rest of his family involved, hires a hitman and thats where the fun began. Killer Joe consists of enjoyable performances from the cast and a pretty decent screenplay. Only issue I had was the sudden ending. - 8/10

Tyrannosaur (2011)
One of the my favorite British films to date. The movie basically follows Joseph (Peter Mullen), an infuriated old man who often has sudden bursts of anger. We also get a look into the life of Hannah, a married shopkeeper suffering at the hands of her abusive husband. When both Joseph and Hannah meet, they become each other's unlikely comfort and spark. Great performances from the lead roles in this moving and heartfelt drama. - 10/10

Mulholland Dr. (2001)
Mulholland Dr. is definitely one of those WTF movies while watching. For two hours, I was totally clueless until the last 30 minutes where everything came together in such a creative, smart and beautiful way. Boasting a nonlinear storyline, bleak/dreamy cinematography and great performances from both Naomi Watts and Laura Harring, Mulholland Dr. is indeed a dreamy masterpiece. - 10/10